Improvement in gas-retorts



STATES PATENT Grrlcn.

WILLIAM W. GOODWIN, OF OAMDEN, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN GAS-RETORTS.

Specification forming part of Letters'Patent No. 159,816, dated February16, 1875; application filed April 10, 1874.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W'ALLACE GOODWIN, of Camden, in the countyof Oamden and State of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in theConnection of Gas-Betorts, of which the following is a specification:

The object of my invention is to connect a series of retorts for themanufacture of illuminating-gas in such a way that the carbonaceousdeposit may be easily removed from the retorts, by the gas passingthrough the series of said retorts from the lower to the upper one, thesaine having the effect of increasing both the quantita7 and quality ofthe gas.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a longitudinalsection of a bench of retorts connected according to my said invention,and Fig. 2 is a front view of the same.

Of the three retorts A O E the upper one, E, is fitted with astand-pipe, P, by which the series is connected with the hydraulic main.rlhe middle and upper retorts communicate, near their rear ends, througha connectingopening, D, which may be merely a heavy tile or rire-clayblock having the requisite short straight opening through it. The pipe Bconnects the lower andthe middle retorts by suitable branches, to whichaccess may be easily gained through the upper end on the removal ot' thecap or plug a. The same purpose may be attained by making the front pipeB as a short vertical pipe between the projecting mouth-pieces of theretorts; and by making the rear connection D oblique in its direction,as would be necessary in a bench of five retorts. v

The operation of the process may be described as follows: All theretorts A, O, and E are charged simultaneously with coal in about thesame quantity-say, from two hundred to three hundred pounds. The upperretort may be charged heavier, if desired. The retort-lids are then pnton in the usual manner. The gas passes from the lower, through themiddle, into the upper; thence through the stand-pipe to the hydraulicmain, by which process the gases are thoroughly mixed and form a Xedilluminating-gas of high candlepower, and there is less carbon left onthe retorts, and less tar and other valueless liquids are made than bythe ordinary process.

I claim as my invention- The combination ofthe retorts A, O, and E withthe connections D and B and the standpipe I), substantially asdescribed, whereby the gas passing through the highly-heated coal in theretorts prevents the deposition of carbon and tar, and is therebyenriched and increased in volume.

WILLIAM W. GOODWIN.

Witnesses:

S. Lnwrs JoNEs, WM. H. MonlsoN.

